Betsy Ashton

Born: England

Age: 11 or 13

Martin Handcart Company

After Betsy’s family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they made plans to sail for America and join the Saints in Zion. Betsy’s parents, William (33 or 34) and Sarah Ann Barlow Ashton (33) and their children, Betsy (11 or 13), Sarah Ellen (7), Mary (4) and Elizabeth Ann (17 months), left Liverpool, England, in May 1856 on the ship Horizon. The family left behind in England the grave of another little daughter, Esther, who had died in infancy.

Fellow traveler John Jacques wrote of the time on board the “Horizon” that whenever there were speeches made by the Captain or Brethren, or weddings or other noteworthy events, they were met with three cheers of  Hurrah” by the emigrants.

One of the more interesting events of this group was the visit of the great author, Charles Dickens, before they left. Mr. Dickens had come to visit for the express purpose of seeing for himself, these Mormons he had heard so many terrible things about, and exposing them by writing about them in the newspaper. However, he was truly surprised to and instead wrote a glowing report of their goodness, saying, “…these people are so strikingly different from all the other people in like circumstances…the captain said the most of these came aboard yesterday evening. They came from various parts of England (and other countries) in small parties that had enver seen one another before. Yet, they had not been a couple of hours on board, when they established their police, made their own regulations, and set their own watches at all the hatchways. Before nine o’clock the ship was as orderly and as quiet as a man-of-war.” Dickens then wrote, “I should have said they were in their degree, the pick and flower of England.” The group was 856 in number.

The ship’s Captain was a kind and gentlemanly man who treated the company very well. He visited the sick and gave them comfort from his own stores. He complimented the Mormon emigrants on their behavior and said that while they sung, “We’ll marry none but Mormons,” he said he would say that he should “Carry none but Mormons.”

Sorrow found this family again on July 2, 1856 as the ship, Horizon was docked at Boston and little Elizabeth died. Heartbroken, the Ashton’s left behind another daughter’s grave. After this, the Ashton family and the company traveled by boat and train to Iowa City, Iowa. Passing Nauvoo, it was noted that the ruins of the temple looked noble in their desolation. Here they spent three weeks finishing handcarts and tents. The Martin Company arrived at their major outfitting camp in Florence, Nebraska, on the 22nd of August, and spent three days there gathering supplies and cattle and preparing to cross the 1,000 miles of plains and mountains between there and the Salt Lake Valley; Betsy’s family had successfully walked and pulled their handcart about 300 miles already.

The Family’s feelings at the beginning of his trek from Iowa for this wide expanse of prairie, may have been those expressed by a fellow traveler in the Martin Company, Samuel Openshaw; “We started about 7 o’clock this morning and traveled through a beautiful country, where we could stand a gaze upon the prairies as far as the eye could see, even until the prairies themselves seemed to meet the sky on all sides, without being able to see a house.  I thought, how many thousands of people are there in England who has scarce room to breathe and not enough to eat.  Yet all this good land is lying dormant, except for the prairie grass to grow and decay.”

                                On the 26th of August, the day after the Martin Co. left Florence, another baby girl was born to the Ashton family. They named her Sarah Ann, after her mother. The Mother died in childbirth and 16 days later on September 11th, the new baby, Sarah Ann, also died.

                                Betsy’s father carried on for four more weeks, caring for his three motherless daughters as best he could. When the company reached Ft. Laramie on Oct. 9th, William enlisted in the U.S. Army and left his three little girls with the Martin Company to continue to Utah. At this time the days were still warm, but the nights were cold. Expected provisions at Ft. Laramie were in short supply and so food rations were cut, the captains not knowing when promised help from Salt Lake would reach them. Perhaps William felt this would be the best way for him to earn some money to sent to provide for his daughters. It was not uncommon in those times for a father to turn the care of his little children over to others when the mother had died. It is not known how long William remained in Military service, but at some point he returned to England.

                                The Saints cared for the little girls as well as they could. They all suffered greatly from food shortages and the lack of warm clothing. The sever weather began at the last crossing of the N. Platte River (near present day Casper, Wyoming) on the 19th of October. The Martin Company became stranded near there for over a week before the rescue party from Salt Lake finally located them. Betsy was only 11 or 13 years old, but surely must have felt great responsibility toward her younger sisters. It finally proved too much for her and she joined her mother and other sisters in death. This left Sarah and Mary to continue on to the Salt Lake Valley. Sarah Ellen lost her sight in one eye during the journey.  The company finally arrived in the Valley on November 30, 1856. They were met by Saints who took them in to their various homes and cared for them. At some point Mary and Sarah found a home with the Hatfield family in Farmington, Utah. At the age of 12, Sarah was living with the Joseph Carlisle family and working for them as a domestic.

                                Sarah married Thomas W. Beckstead when she was 15. Sarah and Thomas had 10 children, four of whom died as infants. Mary was possibly living with them in S. Jordan, as she later married Isaac Wardle who had lived with and worked for Thomas Beckstead’s father, Alex Beckstead, Sr.   Isaac Wardle had also been with the Martin Handcart Company.

                                Sarah and her family settled in Whitney, Idaho in 1887. During those first years in Idaho, a man came to Sarah’s home with a copy of the Millennial Star which contained an inquiry concerning anyone who might know of the relatives of William Ashton, pauper, in England, who had emigrated to America previously and left his children on the plains. Sarah Ellen recognized this mad as her father and sent passage money to England for him to come and join her and her family. Sarah’s father accepted her invitation and Sarah and Thomas cared for William until his death. He is buried in the Whitney cemetery a short distance from their grave sites.

BETSY BLEAK  (pronounced Blake)

Born: 1828 England

Age: 27

Martin Handcart Company

James Godson Bleak was born on November 15, 1829 in Southwork, Surrey, England. He was the third of six children, but the only child to grow to adulthood. One sister and three brothers died in infancy, leaving only James and his brother, John. At the age of 14, James' father died. This was the end of James' formal education. Two years later, James' mother died. James and John then went to live with an aunt. In the next two years, James' aunt and brother also both died. The loss of his family caused him so much sorrow that he could scarcely overcome it. He was now 18years old. Grief stricken and alone, he struggled on. He kept studying and, being a natural scholar, he became a well educated and widely read man. Along with his studies, he also learned the silver and gold smith trade and James became an expert silversmith.

James did have some happy memories from his childhood to share with his children and grandchildren. As a young boy, James would often wait in the park in London where the Queen Victoria would drive each morning. As the queen passed by, James would take off his hat and bow to her. Many times she would stop her buggy to speak to him or pat him on the head and say, "How are you, my young lad?" This pleased him very much. James was a descendant of Horatio Nelson, one of England's naval heroes, and he had great respect for the queen.

James married Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore in St. James Church, London, England, in June of 1849. He was 20 years old and she was 21. About two years later, James' was invited to a meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by a friend, Joseph Lewis Thompson. Joseph's father spoke in the meeting that day and James felt greatly impressed. At the close of the services, the elder Brother Thompson noticed that James' eyes were weak. He explained to James the ordinance of anointing the sick and administering to their relief and invited him to receive this blessing. At first James replied that he had no faith, but finally agreed to the blessing. Later, James told his friend, Joseph, about it in these words: "When I came to the meeting, I could scarcely see anything. Around the gaslights on the streets were halos or rainbow colors, but when I left the building all of that was gone and my vision was clear and bright. I had been healed by the power of God. I have never suffered with that trouble to my eyes since. This miracle and the sermon I had listened to convinced me that your father was a servant of God. So I continued to attend the services and after a thorough investigation of the principles of the gospel, I applied for baptism, and your father baptized and confirmed me a member of the Church. A little while after I was ordained an elder and when your father was called to preside over the Nottingham Conference I succeeded him as president of the White Chapel Branch [in London]. "

Betsy also joined the Church and they were very active. After serving as the Branch President for several years, James was released in 1856 and immediately made ready to come to America. Shortly before leaving England, James presided at a Church conference where a woman bore her testimony and spoke with the gift of tongues concerning the Bleak family. James was given the interpretation, but, as he said, " . . . refrained from speaking it." However, another woman did arise and give the interpretation as follows: "I, the Lord, am well pleased with the offering made by my servant Elder Bleak; and notwithstanding he shall see the angel of death laying waste on his right hand and on his left, on his front and on his rearward, yet he and his family shall gather to Zion in safety, and not one of them shall fall by the way."

By this time the Bleaks had added four little children to their family: Richard Moore (6), Thomas Nelson (4), James Godson, Jr. (2), and Mary Moore (11 months). They sailed on the ship, "Horizon" from Liverpool, England, on May 23, 1856. The following are excerpts from a letter written on board the ship, apparently to Betsy's parents:

Ship Horizon

Liverpool

May 23rd/56

Dear Father and Mother. We have arrived safely and fare all well so far. We have a very comfortable place on board and go out of dock today. Liverpool is the dirtiest place we ever saw. London is exceedingly clean in comparison. Provisions on board are of first-rate quality and plenty for us . . . Remember us kindly to all enquirers. Farewell and may God our Father bless you both is the earnest prayer of your son and daughter.

At the end of the sea voyage, their letter home said they had" . . . a very pleasant journey of 34 days across the Atlantic. Betsy was not seasick at all and I was seasick one day. The children were all very healthy with the exception of James who had the measles on board. . ."

They reached Iowa City by train where they were delayed making handcarts and tents for their trek. The men stationed there by Brigham Young had not gotten word that more immigrants were coming and were packing up to go back to the Salt Lake Valley when the Bleak family and other Saints arrived. After their delay, they wrote one last letter home and included the following:

" . . . This is certainly a most beautiful country.  The climate is hotter at present than in England but agrees with us all first rate. We are very brown. For the last fortnight we have been living in a tent in camp. We expect to start on the plains tomorrow. We have yet to travel thirteen hundred miles before we reach home.  The testimony of us both is that we like "Mormonism" better than ever and we would like all in that respect on the earth to be engaged in the same good cause. If you know anyone who thinks of coming to America, tell them to come to the western states and not to stay in the Eastern cities as wages are much better in the west than in the east and living is also cheaper.  In this state [Iowa] common laborers get 4.3 a day, mechanics get 6.3 a day. Flour of the very best

quality is 12.1 per 100,ham 5 a pound, butter 10, eggs 4 1/2a dozen, cheese 5 a pound, beef 3 and mutton 4 'h a pound for the best parts. We shall write again when we reach the valley. . ."

The Bleaks joined the Martin Handcart Company and began their trek which was fraught with more delays and an early onset of winter. Eventually, rations were reduced from l lb. of flour per day for adults and 8 oz. of flour for children to 4 oz. for adults and 2 oz. for children. During their stay at Martin's Cove, James wrote in his journal (on Nov. 5) that through the blessings of the Lord they felt as content as when they had full rations. However, the day they left the cove (Nov. 9), James' feet were so frozen that the flesh dropped off his heels and he could no longer walk. His faithful wife and others pulled him in a handcart. Little baby Mary, and toddler James, Jr., undoubtedly rode in the handcart or were carried most of the way as well.

James and Betsy and their children were all very sick. They began to fall behind the rest of the company. Betsy was very frightened and fearful they would all freeze to death. As James' condition worsened, Betsy felt that he was dying from cholera or was already dead, and since they had to move on, she wrapped him in a blanket and laid him alongside the trail.

When Betsy caught up with the rest of the company, they were making camp. A family friend who had recently lost her husband to the same death, came to inquire about James' health. This friend was Maria Jackson Normington. When Betsy told her they had left him back on the trail to die, Maria said, "No, it can't be," and told her she should not have permitted him to be left because of the promise he had been given in England. Maria and her son then took their handcart and went back on the trail until they found James and brought him back to the camp and helped to restore him to health. Maria was the woman who had prophesied in tongues that the Bleak family would all make it to Zion.

This family indeed was one of those miraculous ones that had no deaths. However, they had another close call, which James later wrote about in the Church magazine "Juvenile Instructor," (June 15, 1902, pgs. 365-67.) He wrote about it as if from 3rdperson, not using his name but the pseudonym "Scribo." (This was a common practice of that time.) The following excerpt is from that account:

                  

"Two good sisters, one, an aged widow, the other unmarried, in the kindness of their  omanly hearts, had volunteered to assist the mother [Betsy] by taking charge of one of the children at the close of each day's travel till the following morning. The offer was gratefully accepted and the four and a half year old [Thomas], blue eyed, fair haired boy, became the chosen one to share the added protection of their tender care.

One morning, after a very cold night, when winter had overtaken the company, these sisters were horrified to find their little pet lying between them dead, as they decided, and in this condition they brought him to his parents. His father [James], who had already made a fire, took the child and began by anointing him with consecrated oil, and praying over him, calling upon the Lord to keep His promise that not one of the family should fall by the way in gathering to Zion. Tests were applied, but not a heartbeat or other sign of life was in the child. The father continued to administer, to chafe the limbs and body, and to call upon the Lord to fulfill His promise. After what appeared to be the sympathetic fellow travelers and sufferers as a very long time, the father thought he saw a slight flutter in the child's throat; this encouraged further rubbing, chafing and administration until finally, by God's power and blessing, the dear child unclosed his eyes and is now a resident of Salt Lake City, father

of nine children and likewise a grandfather. That word of the Lord, given by the gift of tongues, inspired a faith, an assurance, which prompted administrations and prayers in behalf of a child who was looked upon as dead by the scores present in that camp; and it is the father's conviction that, if that promise

had not been made the boy would have been given up as dead; and would have been laid with the hundreds of that company who were buried by the wayside in that trying journey ."

James celebrated his 27th birthday just two weeks before entering the Valley. The Martin Company was in the vicinity of Rock Creek on James' birthday. The Willie Company had been rescued at this site a few weeks before. James and his family were no doubt sobered as they viewed the mass grave at Rock Creek. By this time, there were enough rescue wagons that the people had abandoned their handcarts and James was able to ride.

The Bleak family arrived in Salt Lake City about noon on Sunday, November 30. Fellow traveler, Langley Bailey, recorded the experience this way: "Coming out of Emigration Canyon I was lifted up in the wagon [and] could see houses in the distance. It was like the Israelites of old and beholding the promised land."

The Bleaks were immediately taken to a Brother Holt's home in Ogden. That family cared for them until they were able to care for themselves. James wrote home to England three days later in his typical positive attitude:

" . . . We should not have been so long performing the journey but we were detained on the road in consequence of the snow falling considerably towards the latter part of our journey. The scenery across the plains is certainly not to be surpassed. We saw the prairie on fire several times and consider it one of the grandest sights in nature. While the weather was fine we had an abundance of excellent plums and grapes, which grow wild in the woods - also cherries and gooseberries small, but of a nice flavor. Our health as a general thing has been very good. Betsy has enjoyed better health on the whole of the journey than she did at home. Mary is rather poorly at present and I have my feet frostbitten in consequence of which I am not able to do any thing like work and do not expect to be able for at least 2 months. But thank God I am consoled to know that neither my wife or children will want for anything, neither will they have to apply anywhere for relief. We are in a room by ourselves and are liberally supplied with food and firing which treatment will continue until I am able to work but of course no longer. Do not understand that I am running in debt and that I shall have to pay when I get well. Such is not the case. What is supplied to us is given -not trusted at the same time. I believe this to be about the worst place for idle or lazy people to come to. . . ."

Five months later, James wrote another letter to his in-laws which gives some details of the condition of his feet and how they lived:

" . . . I have not as yet recovered the full use of one of my feet, but I am able to walk, and shall not be a cripple when I do get well. I have not been able to do anything towards maintaining my family yet, but thanks be to the Lord and our brethren, we have not yet wanted for food. We have experienced nothing but kindness since we entered the valley.

At present we live in a house that has a large piece of ground attached to it planted with peas, cabbages, lettuce, radishes, squashes, pumpkins, vegetable marrows, water melons, mush melons, citrons, etc. for us. I have also some potatoes, onions, parsnips, etc. planted for me on a farm about a mile from where we live. When this quarter is out I am to be schoolmaster in this ward or as you say, parish. This will bring me in about 60 dollars a month. . . which will enable me to obtain oxen, cows and farming implements which are necessary here. Then I can employ hands to farm for me while I am attending my school.

Money is scarce here but we get on just as well without. For instance, if we want to buy anything we pay for it in wheat, oats, indian corn or butter, each of which have a settled price. Betsy and the children enjoy excellent health and look first rate. Mary is just beginning to walk alone. She is backward in consequence of so much riding. Richard and Thomas have just said they would like to see grandfather and grandmother here. This is a fine country and very productive. Seven crops of wheat have been raised on the same ground without changing the crop. . . We have no more to say at present but wish you to remember us to all friends and pray God to bless you."

James made his home in North Ogden. He was with the Nauvoo Legion that went to intercept the troops coming to Utah. Shortly after, he moved his family to Lehi for a short time and then returned to Ogden. In 1861,he was called to move his family to help settle Southern Utah. In 1872, at the age of 43, he was called on a mission to England. He served as Editor of the Millennial Star during his mission. At this time he had also been called to enter plural marriage. He had three wives and at least 15 children at this time. Betsy had borne six more children to him, including twins who were just seven years old when he left for his mission. He eventually had four wives and 33 children who all honored and loved him. His obituary listed his posterity at about 250 people, including 160 grandchildren. After losing all his family as a child, he had certainly been compensated.

James' self-education served him well his entire life. He was secretary of the United Order in St. George and also private secretary to President Brigham Young when he was in St. George. In 1881, he was appointed a temple worker and in 1909, ordained a patriarch. He served as the temple recorder until he was incapacitated by age and also served as a counselor to the temple president. He was a clerk in the Tithing Office, a Stake clerk, clerk in the Co-op store, postmaster, historian of the Dixie Mission for almost 50 years, and a critic and coach of early dramatic clubs of the community. He served in the Bishopric and High Council. He belonged to the board of education, which established the St. George Stake Academy. This later became Dixie College. James' and Betsy's pictures hang in the front office of Brigham Young's home in St. George. Brigham's walking cane was given to the Bleak family, but after many years was returned to the Church and is now in a museum.  Betsy was among the first women called to labor in the St. George Temple, where she worked until the very day of her death, which occurred six days before Christmas in 1899. James made a memoranda to the effect that she worked in the Temple as usual during the day and at night just went to sleep.

BODIL MALENE MORTENSEN

Born: 1845 Denmark

 Age: 10

Willie Handcart Company

Bodil's parents lovingly combined her first and middle names into the nickname "Balena." She was the fourth of their five children. Bodil's father, Niels, was a weaver by trade. He also dug wells. He had a particular way of bricking up the well as he dug. He said that he would use an iron ring the size that he wanted the well to be. He would lay the brick on the ring and then start to dig under the ring. As the ring and the brick settled into the hole, he would lay more brick and when he got the well dug down to the water, it would already be bricked up.

When the LDS missionaries first came to Denmark, Bodil's oldest sister, Anne Margrette, was the first in the family to become interested. At first, her parents did not approve, but they later investigated the Church and were baptized along with Anne and their son, Hans Peter, in November of 1852. When Niels heard Elder Erastus Snow preach about the gathering of Israel, he told his children he always believed that he was one of the children of Israel being gathered to the mountains.

In 1856, Bodil emigrated in the care of her parents' friends, Jens and Else Nielsen. BodiI's older sister, Anne Margrette, had crossed the plains and mountains to Utah the previous year. BodiI's parents, Niels and Maren Mortensen, and other siblings, were still in Denmark, planning to make the journey as soon as funds were available. The family was too poor to send everyone at once.

Peter Madsen, one of the Danish Saints, kept a daily diary. He wrote, "The saints were joyous and bid the saints of Copenhagen a hearty farewell. . . The company was happy and thankful; a good spirit and order prevailed." They traveled by train and ship until they arrived in Liverpool, England. On May 1, 1856, they boarded the ship 'Thornton', " . . . a large three decker from America, commanded by Captain Collins. [They] joined the company of 608 English brothers and sisters who had gone on board before [them]."

One of Bodil responsibilities was to care for Niels Nielson, the 5-year-old son ,of Jens and Else. This must have been quite an adventure for Bodil and Niels. As recorded by Peter Madsen during the month of May, they passed huge icebergs and a damaged ship "not worth retrieving." That was a day selected for worship, prayer, and fasting. Many talks were given and Elder Ahmanson told his Danish flock that they "were highly favored of the Lord." That night" . . . a fire broke out and burned between the decks, but the Lord preserved us so that the fire did not over power us. An English boy who had stowed away on the ship was discovered. He had accompanied us without permission and ticket. For this action he would have been punished and caused to bear a wooden jacket or barrel; but since he was a member of the Church he was forgiven." Surely, Bodil and Niels were saddened as a young boy fell down from the top to the bottom deck and died four days later. He was buried in the same manner as the others who had died previously. This included being wrapped in canvas and the American flag, and being then deposited in the ocean.

Bodil and Niels had happy experiences, as well as the tragic. Imagine their delight as they watched "many seahorses" [dolphins] appear on the water during the month of June. After arriving in America, they traveled by train to Iowa City, where they built their handcarts and sewed their tents and prepared for their trek to their promised Valley. Bodil turned 11 years old (or 10) at Iowa City.

                Caroline Reeder

Born: 1839 England

Age: 17

Willie Handcart Company

                Caroline was traveling with her father, David (54) and her brother, Robert (19), her sister Eliza and Eliza’s husband James Hurren, and their four children. Caroline’s mother had died when she was a newborn, leaving five children motherless. She grew up on the farm of Mr. Read, where her father was a laborer. It was here that her sister, Eliza, met and married James Hurren. James lived with the Reeder family and helped to take care of them.

From Caroline’s brother Robert’s writing there is information about the trek.

                “On the 5th of May we sailed out from Liverpool, England, on the great ocean, which took us a little over six weeks to cross.  I was very sick on the way and could not eat such food as they had on ‘seafare,’ which consisted of what they called sea biscuits and salt pork and salt beef, also brown sugar and vinegar and very little other food.  I got very feeble living principally on sugar and vinegar for three weeks.

“I was glad when we arrived in Castle Garden, New York, where we could get a piece of bread once more.  We rested here a few days, then pursued our journey by railroad and steamboats, changing from one to the other until we arrived at the Iowa camping ground, where we had to lay over tow or three weeks waiting for our outfits.

“While laying over there, we had to herd those cattle night and day.  There were lots of us to change off if all would have taken a part, but it was a very rainy country, and some would not take their turn, especially in the nighttime.  I can well remember those who had charge use to come to us and say, “Will you go and herd again tonight as we cannot get anyone else to go.’  Me and my father and my brother-in-law, James Hurren, have gone three and four nights out of a week in the pouring rain, wet through from head to foot and in the water part of the time up to our knees-anything to help get fitted out and started on the road.”

                Caroline walked along the trail with her family. She was a great friend to her nieces. They remembered with fondness how she encouraged and helped and sang with them along the way.

In her niece, Mary’s story it states: “The first part of the journey was fun for Mary and her sisters. They saw new sights, played around the handcarts with the other children and they especially loved playing with their Aunt Caroline, who was 17 years old and loved to play with them. “

Caroline’s brother, Robert continues his narrative: “When our handcart company got out about three hundred miles on the road, our cattle stampeded, most all of our best oxen leaving, which left us in a bad state to move any farther.  We stayed there for several days hunting as far as we dared to go to find our cattle but could not find any, believing the Indians must have driven them away.  Then some of the flour was taken out of wagons and put on the handcarts according to strength of the party drawing them.  Some had one, other two or three, and, if my memory serves me right, Brother Hurren, (Robert’s brother-in-law) being considered the strongest man in the company, had five sacks put on his cart besides two small girls that were not able to walk and all his baggage and cooking utensils.  His wife helped pulling the cart and walked the entire trail.

“My father, David Reeder, would start out in the morning and pull his cart until he would drop on the road.  He did this day after day until he did not arise early October 7, 1856.  He was found dead in his bed, and his fellow bedmate had not heard a thing during the night.  Sister Eliza wrapped a cherished sheet around him, and we placed him in a shallow grave, hoping wolves wound not disturb.  We must go on our way in silent mourning and in a weakened condition.

“Our rations were growing shorter, and we reduced them by common consent form day to day.  Nights were getting colder, and some would sit down by the roadside and die.  My younger sister, Caroline, seventeen years old, after traveling all day and seeing the camp being made for the night, took off her apron to tie sagebrush in to bring into the camp.  She sat to rest, leaning on her bundle, exhausted.  They found her chilled and dying carried her to camp.  She died without gaining consciousness.  She, too, was placed in an unmarked grave near Three Crossings-Sweetwater River.  She died the evening of October 15, 1856.  Her death was another real loss to us, but we must hurry on in threatening weather and colder night on the Windriver Pass.  So it was with others, as many as thirteen being buried in one grave at one time.  I think fully one hundred died on this trip.

Levi Savage also wrote of this day: “Sweet Water. Today we traveled fifteen and half miles. Last night Caroline Reeder, aged seventeen years, died and was buried this morning. The people are getting weak and failing fast. A great many are sick. Our teams are also failing fast, and it requires great exertion to make any progress. Our rations were reduced last night…” Caroline and her father had suffered greatly, but were spared the severe storms and complete depletion of rations that were yet to come.

James Hurren, Caroline’s brother-in-law also wrote about Caroline: “on October 15th, your sister, Caroline, left the camp one evening to hunt for wood – she was chilled through and through. As she did not return, I went in search and found her crouched down behind a bush. But I was too late. She was departed. All we could do was to lay her tenderly away as best we could.”

Robert continued his narrative of the journey: “On October 17*, we awoke covered with eight inches of snow and rations about gone.  We pulled our carts sixteen miles in blinding snowstorm and arrived at Rock Creek, where we sheltered against the hill as best we could to avoid the north wind and blowing snow.  Weakened to such an extent and without food, thirteen died that night.  All the able-bodied men dug one large grave, but not too deep.  My brother-in law, James Hurren , held out his eight-year- old girl, Mary, to see her little playmate lying among the dead.  (This was Bodil Mortensen..)  We covered them with willows and then earth and slid rocks down the hill to keep the wolves from disturbing them.  Two of the men who helped dig the grave died and were buried in another nearby.  We could go no further.  The weather was severe…

…Through snow and wind we mostly walked behind and relief wagons about three hundred miles to Salt Lake City, and arrived on Public Square (where the Joseph Memorial Building now stands) November 9, 1856.  We stopped for about two hours, and many Church authorities came and talked to us.  Then we were given over to the bishops of the different wards.  Each bishop took a few, whom they saw got some kind of work to pay for their keep during the winter.”

Robert Reeder made two trips back to the Missouri River to help other emigrants on their way to Utah.  While on the first trip he found the grave of his father, David Reeder.  Robert married and was among the earliest settlers in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah.  He became the father of fourteen children.  He was a cattleman, butcher, deputy sheriff, and hay merchant.

After they arrived in the Valley, Caroline’s brother-in-law and sister, James and Eliza, were asked how they felt about their ordeal. They were quick to reply, "With all our trials, our weary traveling, burying our dear ones, piling our clothing and bedding by the wayside and setting fire to them, we have never once felt to murmur or complain or regret the steps we have taken."